Info on Marine who owned my S&W 1917

[luckystrike]

1917....hes long gone.

[AngryPossum]

Originally Posted by luckystrike

1917....hes long gone.

What is the significance of this statement? Have you read this amazing thread?

[primers]

What can you say after reading this post?? Unbeleivable stuff...Ruth ...God bless you and yours...David...I didnt even know you exsisted until this AM...but i would be proud to shake your hand...and some people question why America is the greatest country on earth...its because of men like Ruths father that served too make it so....gotta go ...something in my eye...

[goober]

Originally Posted by luckystrike

1917....hes long gone.

since that was established in post #14 of this thread by his daughter, one can only assume you did not read even that far.

even considering that, why you feel that your statement of the obvious somehow adds to the conversation is a mystery.

do everyone a favor: next time read the whole thread before posting in it. and then think twice.

[6172crew]

Cool Thread!

[AngryPossum]

Originally Posted by goober

since that was established in post #14 of this thread by his daughter, one can only assume you did not read even that far.

even considering that, why you feel that your statement of the obvious somehow adds to the conversation is a mystery.

do everyone a favor: next time read the whole thread before posting in it. and then think twice.

+1. That comment was unnecessary.This thread deserves more respect.

It is probably the single coolest thread I've read on Calguns. How awesome would it be if we all knew the stories behind all our stuff? Especially us military surplus collectors. It's one thing to collect and appreciate what they have been through, but to actually know a piece's actual place in our history and learn something about the men and woman behind them is priceless.

[ponderosa]

This is the first 'old' thread I knew was 'old' before I clicked on it.

Awesome to see it come full circle. There have been, and still are, some great men in this world.

Thanks.

[Hoologan]

Amazing story!

[bigmike82]

David, you're a class act man.

[M47_Dragon]

This is unbelievably awesome. I want to share this with people who aren't even into guns or history -- a universally appealing story, if you ask me.



Semper fi!

[rkt88edmo]

Incredible - glad that the revolver is in the hands of someone who appreciates its history. Tagged for updates.

[Davidwhitewolf]

I emailed her today from my work email account, so hopefully she'll get back to me that way or reply to this thread.

Her email address listed in the Calguns profile is rkt was here -- does email.com even exist?

[qaz987]

You're a good guy David, we're lucky to have you.

[B.D.Dubloon]

Originally Posted by Argonaut

This guy is a class act........Great to be in a similar space with you.

Yup, I take my hat off to you (metaphorically, I don't wear a hat).

[JaMail]

great thread, not all zombies are bad.

[Marsoc1]

After reading all this i had to do a lil reading on my history there...I cant believe how amazing this one tread is...

It would be awesome to somehow find a picture of Mr. Bierkle holding his pistol while on duty in Korea. That would be a cherry on top of this amazing tread

[oldrifle]

Posting in an epic thread.

[luchador768]

I am just totally blown away by this thread! This really is the best thing I have read on CalGuns!! I had chills when I read the daughters posts! Amazing!!
Peter

[jtv3062]

This is a great thread, I love hearing storys like this.


Semper Fi

[bruceflinch]

Thanks to 6172Crew, who brought this thread to my attention.
Thanks to the OP & Daughter who made the story come to light. Awesome!

[jimmyleost]

Great thread!

[Eddie1965]

I'm so glad I read this post, it is just awesome. Can't even try to describe it. I think smoke got in my eyes though when I read it.

[ENTHUSIAST]

Simply amazing... THANK YOU Ruth for sharing with us and honoring the life of your father ORVILLE A. BIERKLE.

Thanks for posting this has been one of the most moving and emotional threads I have ever read on Calguns.

[Hozr]

I hate necrothreads as much as the next guy but this one should never had died in the first place. It should be stickied at the TOP of the best all time threads.

Thanks to DavidWW, Ruth, and especially Orville A Bierkle.

[rhilberg]

Saaalute.

-------

http://www.adventistarchives.org/doc...-V26-50__B.pdf

FROM ONE OF OUR FORMER WORKERS

(The following is a personal letter to Elder Roberts from Brother A. N.Bierkle, one of our missionaries in China, which "Recorder" readers maybe interested in reading.) "25 Ningkuo Road, Shanghai, China. "Dear Brother Roberts: "Many, many things have happened since I last wrote to you. If I remember correctly, Mrs. Bierkle had been home in Kiukiang about a week when I wrote to you last, and at the end of three weeks, after she returned, we had to get out of the city as fast as we could get our clothes together after receiving the word from the Navy Department to evacuate.

"I told Elisabeth to look after the baby's clothes and food, and I would gather the mission's account books, vouchers,, and money, and put, other things which we could not take with us in the safe. It was one grand rush. Several of our Chinese workers helped us, and of course our Chinese servant did all he could, to help us. After we had baby's things and the mission's interested in the truth ? Then the important records packed, we gave attention to some of our cloth-es and such things as we could put in a steamer trunk and suit cases. We had a large wooden box, which was empty and this happened to be upstairs in an empty room; so other clothes, shoes, pictures, and some wedding presents we put in that box and nailed on a cover, but we could not get the box out the evening we left.

"The American and British warships had shelled Nanking in order to save the lives of the foreigners in the city, so that is why we had to leave in such a hurry, as the Nationalists refused to deliver the foreigners in the city to the Bund under protective escort, and the American Admiral sent in his ultimatum demanding the delivering of the Americans living and the bodies of those killed within a definite time; and should they not do it, the city was to be shelled. It was the only thing which saved the lives of the rest of the foreigners, from the human standpoint. All our workers who went through that awful time testify to that.

"In Kiukiang we had a large number of the worst element of the Nationalist army, and the Consuls were afraid that they would try to kill us for revenge for what happened in Nanking down the river. I know by personal experience how it feels to have one of those cutthroats press a bayonet against one's stomach. Personally, I don't like the sensation; in fact, I haven't found anybody who does.

"I'll go on aad tell ,you kow we got out of the Chinese city and to the Standard Oil Company's big office, on, the Bund where we slept that night. First our Chinese workers hired some coolies to carry our baggage to the Bund; then when it became a bit darker we called a rikisha for Elisabeth and Orville, and I walked carrying my Corona. One of the evangelists went PACIFIC UNION RECORDER with me. We could not tell at what time we would be stopped by soldiers
who thronged the narrow street, the only way to get out. We were surprised that we passed by seemingly unnoticed by them. We were glad to
reach the Bund, or the former British Concession, where we were to find protection under the American and British destroyers. The Methodist and Episcopal missionaries all got out the same way we did, only at different times. They had to be careful not to leave all at once so their servants would not find out what was happening.

By 7:30 there were 28 foreigners in the Standard Oil Company's office, and soon Captain Meade, U. S. N., came over to see us. His destroyer was moored 400 feet from the office with guns all ready and men ready for any rush that might be made on our refuge. The Captain told us that all the telephone and telegraph lines were cut between Kiukiang and Nanking, and that was why the Nationalists in Kiukiang were so quiet; they did not know what had happened at four o'clock in the afternoon. We men folks had to stand watch that night, and the next day a boat took us to Shanghai. I might say that before we left, my servant got the big box out of the house and down to the Standard Oil Company before the people knew the news.

"About an hour before we left, the city began to< find out that all the foreigners had left the city and were on the Bund, so they began to gather; but when we got ready to leave the refuge the U. S. sailors came ashore with an armed guard, and that was too much for the Chinese. They have acquired the habit of insulting England out here, and England has stood for a' lot of it, but it. was a new thing to see America mean business. Well, we passed through some very critical days, but now that they are in the past we try to forget.

We are busy here in Shanghai studying the language and keeping in touch with the work by correspondence. . . . Some of our missionaries have lost everything they possess but the clothes they took out with them. All that we have that makes a house a home is left in Kiukiang; that is, it was there the last we knew. Other mission homes in Kiukiang have been looted clean." -

[rhilberg]

Is Sgt. Bierkle recognized in any of these photos?

http://prl.lib.hku.hk/record/121932

[goober]

Originally Posted by rhilberg

Is Sgt. Bierkle recognized in any of these photos?

http://prl.lib.hku.hk/record/121932

According to the caption, that's him there on the reviewing stand in uniform, just left of the two women (the rightmost of which is his wife)...

"Daily. Photographer: Richardson. Date: 1952-05-30. Reporter: Swaim. Assignment: Memorial Day. San Gabriel. K33, 34: San Gabriel's first Memorial Day parade passing reviewing stand in front of Mission Playhouse. On reviewing stand, L to R: Mayor Paul T. Erskine; Chief of Police Frank Carpenter; Grand Marshal Walter Hatch, Past post 442 Commander; Charles Rhodes, Honorary Grand Marshal; Marine Sergeant Orville Bierkle; Mrs. E.M. Butt; Mrs. Orville Bierkle; Post 442 Commander Yancey Shields; and Mrs. Jo Dean".

[Garand1911]

AWESOME THREAD -- UNBELIEVABLE !!!!

+1 on shadow boxing the gun, with the military records and poems, would be really cool.

maybe contact the USMC or NRA museum, they might be interested in publishing this story.

[TurboS600]

Posting in an epic thread. David, if you do hear from Ruth (I don't think email is a valid address) you need to steer her back to this thread. We need to hear more from her. And I will go out on a limb here and speak for the ENTIRE Calguns community when I say that a pic of Orville with that gun posted here would have to make this the first thread in a new Calguns forum...the EPIC THREAD HALL OF FAME FORUM.

[Seesm]

So I remember this thead from last year for sure and it is EPIC.... But I forget Ruth does not want the gun but the op is willing to give it to her? Amazing on both sides...!!

I mean I know my grandpas buddy took my grandpas luger when my grandpa passed and I woudl be soo pumped to get it back. This is a killer thread!!

[pl408]

AMAZING! I am honored and glad I found this thread today
THANK YOU!

[Experimentalist]

A remarkable turn of events. I'm glad the OP learned the history of his purchase.

For those interested in doing their own research, here's a resource you may find of use: http://www.corporaldow.com/

[k3nnex]

wow, speechless. This is an epic thread.

[rerussell]

I happened to check my e-mail yesterday (I only check it about once a week or so) and found David's e-mail; and to say I was over-whelmed by both his response and the response on this thread, would be an understatement! Daddy would be honored and humbled by your kind words and thoughts.

Please give me several days to gather my thoughts and see what paperwork I can gather and I'll be back.

I was amazed at the information you all were able to gather on both daddy and papa (daddy's father). I didn't know about the letter or the pictures in the paper and will print those out and add to what I already have.

The article written by Sharon Kuykendall is my first cousin (daddy's sister's daughter).

WoW -- ok, I'm getting weepy-eyed again, so I say thank you again.

Ruth

[goober]

Welcome Back Ruth!!!
So good to hear from you.

[Davidwhitewolf]

Take all the time you need, Ruth. Two weeks if you need to! We're nothing if not patient.

[Davidwhitewolf]

Originally Posted by rhilberg

Is Sgt. Bierkle recognized in any of these photos?

http://prl.lib.hku.hk/record/121932

Rhilberg and goober, this photo just sent chills down my spine. It's like he's from central casting. What a shot!

[Black Majik]

Just amazing.

[rpounds]

Subscribing to this amazing story.

[Davidwhitewolf]

The photo vanished. Not visible due to "an internal error." Wonder if we crashed the server?